NEW DELHI: Table tennis fans are in for a real treat this year with India set to host its first ever ITTF World Tour event here from February 14-19 and the twice postponed inaugural Indian Table Tennis League to finally debut in May-June.
11Even Sports, whose principal promoter Vita Dani is co-owner of Indian Super League franchise Chennaiyin FC, has won the bid to host the India Open, which will be the second leg of the ITTF World Tour. The first of the 12-leg tour is currently being played in Budapest, Hungary.
The tournament will carry prize money of $120,000, the highest offering for a table tennis tournament in India.
Other countries to host the ITTF 2017 World Tour are Hungary (19-22 Jan); Qatar (23-26 Feb); Korea (20-23 April); Tokyo (16-18 June); China (22-25 June); Australia (29 June-2 July); Czech Republic (24-27 Aug); Austria (1-3 Sept); Bulgaria (7-10 Sept); Germany (10-12 Nov) and Sweden (16-19 Nov).
The best paddlers in the world compete for glory and World Tour Standing points at the events with the top 16 making the cut for the World Tour Finals.
“The Seamaster ITTF 2017 World Tour India Open offers an excellent opportunity to position India on the global table tennis map,” said Vita Dani, 11Even Sports chairperson.
TTFI secretary general Dhanraj Choudhary added, “We commend 11Even Sports s efforts to win the bid to bring the prestigious ITTF 2017 World Tour event to India as such premier tournaments help in creating awareness and get the youth interested in the sport.
As for the Indian Table Tennis League, the Rs10-million prize money tournament, first announced in August 2015, has managed to get a dedicated window on the ITTF calendar between the Korea and Tokyo World Tour events.
It is worth noting that 11EVEN Sports had a possible window available in May-June last year but since it was just ahead of the Rio Olympics, it was decided that the league would be held on a suitable date after the Rio Games.
